“Partners?” I ask, my voice breathy. “What does that even mean?”
He sighs and shakes his head. “As I said, there’s a lot to discuss. I know it doesn’t make much sense now, but it will.”
“Something is going on, Callum,” I say, hugging my arms around myself and trying to keep my voice low. “I’m not stupid. The way everyone’s acting in there, handling me with kid gloves while slapping each other on the back like best friends? What the fuck is that about? And what’s up with Liam? Is he on the outs or something?”
He just looks up at me, then straightens his posture on the bench and adjusts his sleeves. I raise my brows expectantly, waiting for an answer. He seems to be deliberating something, taking his time. I feel irritation rise inside me.
“Okay, you know what, Callum? Forget it.”
I spin around, intending to march away, but I feel his fingers wrap around mine gently, firmly.
“Please, Maeve. Just sit down.”
I sigh and sink back down beside him on the bench, pulling my hand out of his.
“I knew this was going to happen,” he whispers to himself, then he glances back at me. “Look, I don’t blame you for being pissed. I’ll tell you everything. At dinner tomorrow night. Let’s not make tonight any more awkward than it already is.”
His voice is so gentle. I feel my frustration ebbing slightly.Fecker.
“Fine. Tomorrow night.”
He smiles, a slow, sensual smile, and I feel his fingers trailing up my back, light as a whisper.
“You know, I’ve waitednine yearsto behere, next to you. Nine years to look you in the eyes again,” he murmurs, closing the space between us again.
I want to act offended at his brazenness. Tell him to fuck off. Stomp away indignantly. But I’m glued to the spot. He smiles, as if he’s reading my thoughts.
“I know you may hate me right now. But you will hate me a little less by the end of ourdate,” he says with an authoritative edge, emphasizing the last word as though daring me to protest.
I take a deep breath and look up at him. But before I can say anything, he stands smoothly, adjusts the roll of his sleeves, and walks back toward the house. When he reaches the door, he turns to look back at me. He smiles softly, but there’s a flash of something steely in hiseyes. Something dangerous. And despite the danger, I feel my defenses slipping for the thousandth time tonight. He holds my gaze for a second longer, lifts a brow, then walks back inside.
Who is he? This is definitelynotthe soft, gentle Callum I once knew.ThisCallum is a little… dark. I realize then, with absolute certainty, that keeping him at arm's length would be an uphill battle. And it might be a battle I’d end up losing. At least I’m not the only one with these feelings welling up inside me.
I take a few moments to catch my breath, then walk back inside. As I step through the sliding glass door, I see everyone gathering in the foyer. Niall is putting Aisling’s coat on for her.
Aisling hugs me tightly. “Let’s have lunch the day after tomorrow, yeah?”
I give her a tight smile. “Sure. I’ll have my father send you my phone number, and we can work out the details tomorrow.” Anything I had planned with Nessa will just have to wait. Lunch with Aisling is more critical than a typical Thursday with Nessa. It’s not like we did much anyway, or at least not much that I wanted to do.
She hugs me tightly again. “Maeve, I’ve missed you more than I can put into words.” I don’t know how to respond, but I do hug her just a little tighter.
Pulling away, she holds onto my shoulders for a few seconds more and squeezes them as she looks me over one more time, like she’s afraid I’ll disappear.
Niall walks over, grabs my hand in both of his, and gives me a gentle smile. It’s certainly a change from the stern, harder Niall I’d known years ago. “We will have you and your father over at the house later this week, okay?”
I just nod my head. He kisses the top of my hand, then the top of my forehead, and I feel tears threatening to surface.
My father had always avoided any form of physical contact as much as possible. No hugs.No forehead kisses.No pats on the head.Nothing.I hadn’t realized just how much I had missed them in my life, and I feel just a little less empty than I did at the beginning of the night.
Callum’s parents depart with Eoin, but Ronan and Callum linger by the steps that lead to the front door. My father seems to have disappeared, probably on purpose.
Great.
I take a step toward them, unsure of myself. Callum looks at me steadily, standing incredibly still. Ronan, however, looks relaxed. Entertained, even.
“Well, that went better than I expected. Much less yelling than I imagined,” he adds thoughtfully, bringing a finger to his chin.
Smartass.
